I think it's been awhile since we had one of these threads. Over the years I've come to the conclusion that DSM owners are a unique 'breed' to say the least. Lets compile a list of actions/things which are fairly unique to us DSM owners.

You know you own a DSM when:

- you use the tripometer as a way to determine if it's cheaper to have your car towed back home or to your destination if it were to break down

- you post on a message board when automotive tools are on sale

- you have an 'alias' so you can register 2 different CAA accounts

-When you start thinking of repairs as rental fees to drive the dsm for another few months...

Atleast for me...

When you worry because your car has been running fine for the past few months.

When you are driving by yourself and start to think, "What would happen if I broke down.... HERE"

When you wonder what will break next.

- When you make sure you're not talking on your cel phone TOO much when travelling so you safe some battery life just incase you need to call a tow truck.

-When you wonder what it would be like if you never owned one.

When you keep craving a dsm again even though all your logical senses tell you to stay the hell away from them, just as a heroin addict will never ever be completly cured.

Scotty and Ryan got it dead on. ahahhahaha

When you check to make sure that your car is idling steady at the right rpm every week or two. (I have never visually checked the idle rpm in any other car I have ever owned, yet I have and do religiously on each of my DSMs I've owned)

When your buying replacement parts, for parts that haven't broken 'yet'.

Paul

When you work for Chrysler and spend your whole pay check at the parts counter!

When your parts guys feel so bad they start giving you things for free.

- When you have CAP's and Mitsu on Speed dial on
your cell right after CAA.

When you have enough spare parts to build another DSM!

When you can never auctually say that your car is working the way it should, just "ok for now"!

You know your a hard core DSM owner when your car breaks down on you and you know what the problem is before you even come to a stop just by the sound of the noise it made.

When you can change your timing belt in less then an hour!

-You call your road side assistance package which is a part of your insurance company and you have to tell them you are on a road in Cayuga and your car has mysteriously blown a clutch into a million pieces.

-The guy on the other end of the phone asks if the car is AWD and what times you ran today (not so good when it's your insurance company asking).

When you down play your problems so your car doesn't look so terrible and unreliable.

- when you frequently enjoy a game of "name that noise" with others in the car.

(It's a good game and never gets old as there are always new noises.)

- when your girlfriend/wife never gets suspicious when your home late from work because she knows its only because the DSM broke down AGAIN!

When you belong to a kick ass member board and when a posts like "You know you own a DSM when..." comes up, there is a big turnout of answers.

When the board goes down and it's like all DSMer's are lost without it.

- When you buy another DSM with the intention to part it out, but keep most parts because they haven't been changed recently.

When you put beatdowns on 10+ year newer sports cars, and aren't the slightest bit surprised in doing so.

Your a dsmer when you have spent 1000's of hrs working on them and enjoy them still.
And I like what Nathan said

"When you keep craving a dsm again even though all your logical senses tell you to stay the hell away from them, just as a heroin addict will never ever be completly cured."

That descibes Matt Toeppner. to a t as well as a few other members hahaha. Its a sickness that cannot be cured easily.

When your girlfriend insists on driving her car to weddings because the talon COULD very well not make it.

When two of this semesters teachers have told you they wanna take a ride in your car, without you ever telling them you have one.

When you know it takes 7.5 minutes (in moms car) to get to the closest parts shop. 18 on a bike with a backpack.

-When you have a 'backup' car that you use for when your DSM is busted. It's not as nice or fun, but at least it's reliable.

And Nathan got it right on with me. My Talon spun a rod bearing, it sat in the garage for months and now I'm putting another engine in it because I miss her so much!

Thats the best one yet

...when you're watching TV and a commercial comes on with a guy and his GF in a DSM, and the CEL comes on and the car dies in front of a wedding store...and instead of laughing at the commercial, you feel genuinely hurt that they used a DSM.

-When your car kicks so much a55 just by reputation alone, that hondas/kias/hyundais are always revving at you, wanting a chance to prove to themselves and their 'peeps' that their d*cks aren't as small as we all know they are.

-That you know deep down inside, that all cars; EVEN hondas and toyotas have got their share of problems, but damned if your car doesn't look a whole lot sexier than theirs when up on jackstands.

-When every day you secretly hope for a letter in the mail from Mitsubishi saying: "Sorry about the bad run of cranks, we'd like to buy you an Evo VIII to make up for it." (okay, maybe that's just MY wish.. )

I wish for that too!!!

I busted out laughing when I saw that commercial, casting director did an excellent job casting the right car.

SO SO TRUE. I put a part in my car today and the smell brought back memories just like those commercials when he leans on the car...

When you save money for mods and buy them right away even if they sit for a year because you know as soon as you do something else will break...

When you can see the logic in building another engine for a back-up... just in case

When you get annoyed when people talk about their fast probes and hondas :rolleyes:

Matt

When You, and Your Car is Broke.

When your mom feels so sorry for you, she pays for your CAA membership

When you get the mechanic's discount at the parts store, even though you work in an office.

When you're buying a new house and the location depends entirely on how long it takes you to walk to the nearist parts store.

...when you have 3 different parts managers on speed dial in your cell phone.

...when you call up Eastway Chrysler and Adam Clay says "Hey Kevin!" even before I say "Hi"

When you have a computer, heater and insulation in your garage.

When the cost of repairs exceed the value of the car by 10 times in one year and your friends always tell you, "Wow, you could've bought 10 talons!".

lol. Wow and haven't we all heard that a million times before. They don't understand though.

...your 2-ton hydraulic jack finds its home behind your passenger seat.

...complete strangers refer to your housing complex as "where all thoes mechanics live".

...you curse because you can't find the 9/16" socket that you were using in place of your misplaced 14mm socket.

...you first drive another car, and have difficulties because it is not necessary to heel-toe a stable idle.

-You only carry a Palm Pilot to log your engine's data.

-before racing someone, you 90% of the time know their engine, hp, and performance specs. and you usually know if you will win or not

-right before u start modding, some damn matainence thing breaks down

-Every tire shop/parking garage/car wash/repair shop guy stalls out when he lets out your ACT 2600 clutch.

-If a junk yard to you is an upgrade yard.....

-If everytime you launch, you can't see the damn road all the way through 1st gear (AWD

-you walk around the house going "sssssssss pssssssht" "sssssss psssssssht"

When you give up on reliability and buy a Honda.

BS, DSM's are reliable...

-When your friends make fun of your talon and they say no way in hell they would ever own a dsm and a few weeks later buy one.

You know who you are .